The PRSA—Las Vegas Valley Chapter represents professional public relations interests in Southern Nevada. Members of our chapter work in corporations, agencies, associations, service organizations, government, and universities, reflecting the business and professional community of Southern Nevada.  The chapter serves approximately 140 local members through a variety of programs that cover relevant and emerging communications topics. Chapter operations and programming are managed by a volunteer board of directors, working with volunteer committees. Members are encouraged to make the most of their PRSA membership by becoming involved with the following committee opportunities.  

Please contact us if you're willing and able to volunteer or to learn about membership.

• Volunteers still needed! Time commitment:  1-2 hours per month, mostly through e-mail and telephone contact

The Diversity Committee works together with the Recruitment and Retention Committee to increase the chapter’s membership with particular attention to increasing the diversity of the chapter, including racial, ethnic, industry and practice. Reports to the VP of Membership.

 Committee members:

Maria Marinch (chair), Language Resources

Mira McKissic, The Louis Berger Group 

• Volunteers still needed! Time commitment:  1-2 hours per month, working closely with the Recruitment and Retention Committee

The Internet Committee manages content and functionality of the chapter Web site (prsalasvegas.com), supervises technical upgrades to the chapter’s electronic communications vehicles, and assists with content and functionality of the Pinnacle Awards Web site. Reports to the VP of Communications.

Committee members:

Ruth Furman (chair), Image Words

Bonnie Parrish-Kell, Dancing Rabbits Job Bank Committee

The Job Bank Committee solicits and posts public relations job opportunities for members and others with a subscription. The committee also manages the subscription process for members and non-members in coordination with the Internet committee and the recruitment and retention committee. Reports to the VP of Membership.

Committee members:

Sarah Thornton (chair), Sarah Thornton Public Relations 

Volunteers still needed! Time commitment:  1-2 hours per month, mostly through e-mail and telephone contact

The Luncheon Seminar Committee organizes and staffs monthly luncheon seminars, featuring a variety of relevant topics of interest to public relations practitioners in the Las Vegas Valley. Reports to the VP of Programs; chaired by the President-elect.

 Committee members:

Diane Lancaster Gibes (chair), Kummer Kaempfer Bonner Renshaw & Ferrario

Lori Bachand, APR, UNLV Foundation

Tom Bradley, Las Vegas Valley Water District

Julie Chapman

Pete Codella, APR, Codella Marketing

Allison Huntley, Regional Transportation Commission

Nancy Katz, R&R Partners 

Pinnacle Awards Committee

The Pinnacle Awards Committee plans, promotes and manages all aspects of the chapter’s annual awards ceremony to recognize the best public relations programs, tools and professionals in Southern Nevada, Northern Arizona and Southern Utah. Reports to the VP of Programs.

 Committee members:

Mira McKissic (chair), The Louis Berger Group

Betty Hollister, APR, Clark County Regional Flood Control District

KerriAnne Mukhopadhyay, Clark County Regional Flood Control District

• Volunteers still needed! Time commitment:  1-2 hours/month for regular planning meetings, until the weeks prior to the event

 Professional Development Committee

The Professional Development Committee works to increase the value of PRSA membership by offering continued high quality professional development programming for local public relations practitioners through a variety of offerings including live presentations, national PRSA programming and national programs and speakers. Reports to the VP of Programs. Committee members:

Lenora Kaplan, Q Advertising and Public Relations

Mira McKissic, The Louis Berger Group

Andy North, St. Rose Hospital

Mary Ann Price, City of Las Vegas

·        Volunteers still needed! Time commitment: 1-2 hours/month, and approximately 4 hours during the months when a professional development event is scheduled

The Recruitment and Retention Committee plans and manages efforts to grow and retain the membership of the PRSA Las Vegas Valley Chapter. Also, it plans and manages up to four PRSA Las Vegas Valley Chapter mixers per year. Reports to the VP of Membership.

Committee members:

Brian Cox, Nathan Adelson Hospice

Michelle Mouton, UNLV Foundation

• Volunteers still needed! Time commitment:  1-2 hours per month, especially at monthly luncheon seminars and planned chapter mixer events

The Accreditation chairs work with chapter members to ready them for the APR exam, including conducting preparedness sessions, coordinating Readiness Reviews for candidates, serving as the chapter’s liaison to the UAB and associated accreditation information, and promoting the APR program among qualified chapter members. They also engage current APRs in chapter activities, specifically those in support of the accreditation process. Reports to the VP of Membership.

Nancy Syzdek, APR, UNLV Division of Student Life

• Volunteers still needed! Time commitment:  2 hours every few months for review sessions and exam proctoring for candidates

 Publicity Committee

The Publicity Committee provides media relations services to the chapter, including developing and maintaining relationships with local media representatives in an effort to forward public relations as a profession; creating and editing blog postings; and, along with the Internet Committee, coordinating the posting of news on the chapter Web site.  Reports to the VP of Communications. 

Committee members:

Kipp Cooper, Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors

Ethics & Advocacy Committee:

The Ethics and Advocacy Committee coordinates chapter ethics messages and serves as a voice for ethics in the chapter. It also serves as a chapter resource to chapter members needing advice and counsel on ethics concerns. Reports to the VP of Communications. Committee members:

Shannon Hiller (chair), Vanguard Media Group 

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee review monthly expenses and income, as well as the aggregate annual budget; steers policy regarding the chapter’s financial commitments; and provides recommendations on the chapter’s financial investments. Chaired by the VP of Finance.

Committee members:

Amy Brooks (chair), UNLV Government & Community Relations

Lori Bachand, APR, UNLV Foundation

Fred de Sousa, APR, Bechtel SAIC LLC

Diane Lancaster Gibes, Kummer Kaempfer Bonner Renshaw & Ferrario

Sandi Milton, Nevada State Bank

 Scholarship Committee will coordinate with the VP of Finance to:

The Scholarship Committee disburses an annual scholarship award(s) to a Las Vegas Valley area communications student(s). The committee establishs timeline and marketing plans for scholarship distribution, reviews scholarship application, conducts interviews with candidates, and select successful recipient(s). Reports to the VP of Finance. 

Committee members:

Sandi Milton (chair), Nevada State Bank

Tony Allen, UNLV Public Affairs 

Dawn Britt, The Venetian

Roger Buehrer, Las Vegas Valley Water District

Sponsorship Committee

The Sponsorship Committee identifies and recruits cash and in-kind sponsors for luncheon seminars, professional development seminars, Pinnacle Awards and other chapter events; coordinates sponsor attendance and appropriate recognition for sponsorships; and markets the sponsorship program to maximize awareness. Reports to the VP of Finance. 

Committee members:

Kate Collins, Marketwire

• Volunteers still needed! Time commitment:  1-2 hours per month, especially at monthly luncheon seminars and planned chapter mixer events

Volunteers in bold are members of the PRSA—Las Vegas Valley Chapter.

Please contact us if you're willing and able to volunteer.